Binding system for a sports apparatus and a sports apparatus having such a system

ABSTRACT

A system for binding a boot on a support surface of a sports apparatus, of the type in which the binding system includes a rear binding. The binding system is provided with a front binding in the form of a hook that is affixed to the sports apparatus and which demarcates a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on both sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot. The rear binding longitudinally immobilizes the boot in a position such that the transverse rod of the boot is maintained within the notch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based upon French Patent Application No. 01 01602, filed Feb. 2, 2001, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to system for binding a boot to a sports apparatus including a device to quickly fasten the apparatus to the user's feet

[0004] The invention can be used for various sports apparatuses such as snowshoes, roller skates, ice skates, short skis, a crampon plate, etc.

[0005] The invention is more particularly described within the scope of its application to snowshoes in which both the forefoot and the heel of the user remain in constant contact with the corresponding support surfaces of the snowshoe, contrary to binding systems in which the heel remains free.

[0006] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

[0007] Various devices exist, which make it possible to fasten the snowshoes to the feet of the user. One of the most widely known devices uses two sets of straps that cooperate with the forefoot and with the instep, respectively, so as to steadily maintain the user's boot pressed against corresponding support surfaces of the snowshoe. Generally speaking, front and rear abutment systems are provided, which, combined with these sets of straps, make it possible to ensure the longitudinal and transverse blocking of the boot on the snowshoe.

[0008] Such devices perfectly fulfill their role, but they have the disadvantage of requiring two sets of straps to be positioned on each foot, which can be time consuming and difficult, especially when the user wishes to put on or remove his/her snowshoes in cold weather, with numbed fingers or with gloves on.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,477 describes a snowshoe to which a binding system, derived from the systems used in cross-country skiing, is adapted. In this patent, the boot worn by the user includes, at its front end, a transverse cylindrical rod that is blocked in a cylindrical housing with the same diameter to form a journal. The housing is demarcated by a system with jaws, and it includes an opening and closure mechanism to enable the engagement and disengagement of the front transverse rod of the boot. When the housing is closed, the rod only has one degree of freedom left, namely, the rotation about its transverse axis.

[0010] However, this type of binding, derived from cross-country ski bindings, has the disadvantage of being relatively complex and expensive for a product such as a snowshoe. Furthermore, since the binding of the boot is ensured only at the front, the retention between the boot and the snowshoe can prove inadequate when the snowshoe is used in steep slopes. Indeed, contrary to a cross-country ski which, due to its narrow with, can remain almost horizontal by cutting into the snow, the snowshoe only very slightly penetrates into the snow and, therefore, tends to assume the orientation of the slope. As the user tends to maintain his/her leg in a position close to the vertical, the rear of the foot, not maintained in the example of the cited document, tends to be offset in relation to the snowshoe, which hinders the progression. Moreover, substantial bending forces occur in the area of the binding between the snowshoe and the boot. Therefore, one understands that a binding of the type illustrated in the document cited hereinabove might not absorb such forces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Therefore, an object of the invention is to propose a binding system for a snowshoe that perfectly holds the boot on the snowshoe while being very simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0012] To this end, the invention proposes a system for binding a boot on a sports apparatus, in particular a support surface of a snowshoe, of the type in which the binding system includes a front binding and a rear binding, wherein the front binding is formed of a hook-like member that is affixed to the apparatus and demarcates a notch open longitudinally rearward and transversely on both sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot, and wherein the rear binding longitudinally immobilizes the boot in a position such that the transverse rod of the boot is maintained within the notch.

[0013] A very simple binding system is thus obtained, in which the forefoot is perfectly blocked vertically and transversely without using conventional strap systems.

[0014] The invention also proposes a snowshoe provided with such a binding system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snowshoe provided with a binding system according to the prior art;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a view similar to the same snowshoe equipped with a binding system according to the invention;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view, along a longitudinal vertical plane, showing the front binding of the boot on the snowshoe;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic top view showing the means for transverse blocking of the front of the boot, the sole of the boot being shown in cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020]FIG. 1 shows a snowshoe 10 equipped with a binding system designed according to the prior art. The snowshoe itself is of the type of that described in the document EP-A-882478 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,436, for example. This snowshoe essentially includes a frame 12 made of an injected plastic material and which forms a screen capable of withstanding the user's weight without the snowshoe sinking too deeply into the snow. The snowshoe further includes a plate 14 that is journalled on the frame 12 about a substantially transverse axis A1. Preferably, the journal of the plate 14 on the frame 12 is made according to that which is described in the EP-A-882478 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,436. The plate 14 is made of a rigid plastic material, for example, and it includes an attachment device to enable the fastening of the user's boot thereto.

[0021] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the binding system according to the prior art includes a rear binding 16 and a front binding 18 which are both strap bindings and are both anchored on the plate 14 so that the boot is entirely affixed to the journalled plate 14.

[0022] The rear binding 16 includes a rear abutment 20 whose shape is substantially complementary to that of the heel of a boot, in order to block the boot both longitudinally rearward and transversely on both sides. The longitudinal position of the rear abutment 20 is adjustable. The rear abutment 20 includes a set of straps 22, both strands of which are journalled on the rear abutment 20 and extend upwardly and forwardly to be able to encircle the boot instep. The two strands of the set of straps 22 are provided with a tightening system 24 that makes it possible to press the rear of the boot both longitudinally rearward against the rear abutment 20, and vertically downward against the rear portion of the plate 14 that forms a rear support surface for the boot.

[0023] The front binding 16 includes a front abutment 26 obtained in the form of a shell that extends upwardly from the front end of the plate 14 and whose shape is substantially complementary to that of the front end of a conventional touring boot. The function of this abutment is essentially to guide the front of the boot transversely. Indeed, in this front binding of known type, the vertical retention of the boot on the plate 14 is ensured by a set of straps 28 which is arranged substantially in the area of the transverse journal axis of the plate 14 on the frame 12, and which is provided to strap the front end of the boot in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joint.

[0024]FIG. 2 shows the same snowshoe 10 equipped with a binding system consistent with the teachings of the invention, this system being described in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0025] According to the invention, the front binding 30 according to the invention essentially includes a hook, or a hook-like element, 32 that is fixed to the front end of the journalled plate 14. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the hook 32 has a base 34 that extends substantially in a horizontal plane and has a profile similar to that of the front end of the plate 14. The base 34 is provided to be fixed beneath the front end of the plate 14 by two screws 36 offset transversely in relation to one another, In the embodiment shown in the drawing figures, the plate 14 carries, at its front end, a claw crampon 38 that extends forwardly and downwardly with respect to the front end of the plate. This crampon 38 is made in the form of an attached piece made of metal, for example. Advantageously, it is provided that the screws 36 that ensure the attachment of the hook 32 also ensure the attachment of the crampon 38. Thus, it can be seen that the base 34 of the hook 32 is sandwiched between the rear of the crampon 38 and the lower surface of the plate 14.

[0026] The base 34 is extended at its front end by a front wall 40 that rises above the front end 42 of the plate 14. From the upper end of the front wall 40, the hook 32 includes two teeth 44 that are transversely offset in relation to one another and which extend longitudinally rearward, above the front end 42 of the plate 14 and parallel thereto.

[0027] In a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal transverse plane, the hook 32 thus demarcates, together with the upper surface of the front end of the plate 14, a notch 46 that is open longitudinally rearward and is closed on its other three sides. Thus, the notch is substantially U-shaped toward the rear. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the notch 46 is however open transversely on both sides along its entire length.

[0028] According to the invention, this front binding 30 with a hook 32 is provided to cooperate with a boot 48 whose front end includes a transverse connection rod or member 50. Such boots are commonly used in cross country skiing, with bindings having jaws that confine the rod 50. In a known fashion, such a boot includes a sole 52 whose lower surface is notched with a longitudinal groove 54 open downwardly. This groove 54 is therefore demarcated in the sole 52, upwardly by an upper surface 56 and transversely by two lateral opposite surfaces 58 that are substantially parallel to one another. At the front end of this groove 54, the rod 50 extends transversely between the two lateral surfaces 58, beneath the upper surface 56.

[0029] According to the invention, the boot 48 is provided to engage on the snowshoe longitudinally, from the rear toward the front, so as to cause the connection rod 50 to penetrate into the notch 46. To this end, the vertical thickness of the teeth 44 of the hook 32 must of course be less than the distance that vertically separates the connection rod 50 from the upper surface 56 of the groove 54. Similarly, the height of the notch 46, determined by the height of the teeth 44 above the plate 14, must be adapted to the diameter of the connection rod 50 and to the positioning height of the rod 50 above the lower surface of the sole 52.

[0030] In this way, when the connection rod 50 is engaged within the notch 46, the boot 48 is vertically blocked upward by the teeth of the hook 52 which retain the connection rod 50. The boot 48 is also retained downward by the support of the sole 52 on the plate 14.

[0031] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the transverse width l1 of the connection rod 52, determined by the spacing of the teeth 44, is substantially identical to the transverse width l2 of the groove 54 determined by the spacing of the two opposite lateral surfaces 58. Thus, when the connection rod 50 is engaged within the notch 46, the teeth 44 of the hook cooperate with the opposite surfaces 58 of the groove 54 to transversely block the boot 48 in relation to the plate 14. To facilitate the engagement of the connection rod 32 between the two opposite surfaces 58 of the grooves 54, the outer edges of the free ends of the teeth 44 are provided with ramps 45.

[0032] In the example shown, the lower surfaces of the teeth 44 of the hook 42 and the upper surface of the end of the plate 14, which surfaces vertically demarcate the notch 46, are substantially parallel, so that the height of the notch is substantially constant along the entire length. However, the height of the notch 46 could be provided to diminish as it gets closer to the end, which would result in vertically pressing the boot sole downward toward the plate 14 as the rod advances toward the end of the notch.

[0033] With the embodiment described and shown, the connection rod 50 does not necessarily penetrate forwardly up to the end of the notch 46. Indeed, the longitudinal position of the boot 48 in relation to the plate 14 is determined by the longitudinal position of the rear abutment 20. In fact, in this embodiment of the invention, the single tightening mechanism is constituted by the set of straps 22 that tends to move the boot backward until it is in support against the rear abutment 20. However, this is in no way a problem since the front binding only has the function of blocking the front of the boot transversely and vertically, and since these functions are ensured as long as the rod 50 is maintained within the notch 46. Conversely, the length of the notch 46 provides an adjustment margin for the longitudinal position of the rear abutment. However, if the position of the rear abutment is sufficiently advanced, the rod comes into abutment at the end of the notch.

[0034] However, the binding system according to the invention could also use a rear binding which, conversely, would tend to push the boot longitudinally forward. In this case, the longitudinal position of the boot would be determined either by the abutment of the rod 50 at the end of the notch 46, or by the abutment of the sole 52 of the boot against the front surface 40 of the hook 42.

[0035] In any event, it remains however necessary to use a rear binding system that prevents the boot from moving backward and which, therefore, prevents the rod 50 from coming out of its notch 46.

[0036] The snowshoe according to the invention therefore makes it possible to ensure a particularly reliable, precise, and quick binding of the boot 48 on the snowshoe 10 when the user wears boots provided with a transverse front rod. The user can thus use boots of the “cross-country ski” type on another apparatus, for example the snowshoe, and does not have to purchase specific boots.

[0037] However, it could be advantageous to provide on the snowshoe 10, in this case on the plate 14, anchoring means 60 making it possible to add a front set of straps as in the prior art. Indeed, as the front hook is dismountable, the snowshoe 10 can be delivered with a supplemental piece including a base identical to that of the hook 32 but having a form similar to that of the front abutment 26 illustrated in FIG. 1. In this way, equipped with this universal front abutment and with a front set of straps, the snowshoe 10 can also be used with conventional touring boots with no transverse front rod. The passage from one binding system to another is done very easily and at low cost.

[0038] The hook 32 could be made non-dismountable and could be obtained, for example, in a one piece with the plate 14, i.e., unitary with the plate.

[0039] As indicated previously, the invention can be used for sports apparatuses other than snowshoes, in particular roller skates, ice skates, snowboards, or short skis, which do not need releasable bindings. One can also provide to use it on apparatuses such as crampon plates that are adapted to be fixed beneath a boot in order to enable progression on an icy or heavily snow-covered terrain. One therefore sees that this binding system can be adapted to a large number of apparatuses for various sporting activities. With a same boot, a user can thus use various apparatuses. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for binding a boot on a support surface of a sports apparatus, said system comprising: a front binding comprising a hook, said hook being configured and arranged to be affixed to the sports apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in a position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot within the notch.
 2. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein the boot is vertically blocked when its transverse front rod is maintained within the notch.
 3. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein the rear binding comprises a rear abutment and a tightening device that tightens the boot downward against a rear support surface of the sports apparatus, and longitudinally rearward against the rear abutment.
 4. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein, when the transverse rod of the boot is pushed longitudinally toward a forward end of the notch, the boot is pressed downward against a front support surface of the sports apparatus.
 5. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein the hook comprises guiding means that cooperate with the boot to block it transversely.
 6. A binding system according to claim 5, wherein the transverse rod of the boot extends between two opposite longitudinal vertical walls, wherein the hook has a transverse width substantially equal to the transverse spacing of the two walls, and wherein, when the transverse rod is received in the notch, the hook cooperates with the two opposite walls of the boot to block it transversely.
 7. A binding system according to claim 6, wherein the hook is transversely received between the two opposite walls of the boot.
 8. A binding system according to claim 7, wherein the hook is chamfered to facilitate its longitudinal engagement between the two opposite walls of the boot.
 9. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein the hook comprises a front wall that is mounted at the front end of the front support surface of the sports apparatus, and two teeth that extend longitudinally rearward from the front wall, the notch being vertically demarcated between the support surface of the sports apparatus and the teeth of the hook, and the end of the notch being formed by the front wall of the hook.
 10. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein the hook is detachably mounted on the sports apparatus, and wherein the sports apparatus comprises means for enabling the mounting of a universal front binding device including a front abutment and a tightening device capable of tightening a boot downward against a front support surface of the sports apparatus.
 11. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein the hook comprises a base that extends beneath the front support surface of the sports apparatus and which is tightly mounted between the front support surface of the sports apparatus and a crampon that is fixed beneath the front support surface.
 12. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein the support surfaces of the sports apparatus are formed on a plate that is journalled about a general axis substantially transverse in relation to a load-bearing frame of the sports apparatus, and wherein the front and rear binding devices are mounted on the journalled plate.
 13. A binding system according to claim 1, wherein the sports apparatus is a snowshoe.
 14. A sports apparatus in combination with a binding system for binding a boot to be supported on a support surface of the sports apparatus, said binding system comprising: a front binding comprising a hook, said hook being configured and arranged to be affixed to the sports apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in a position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot within the notch.
 15. A sports apparatus in combination with a binding system according to claim 14, wherein said sports apparatus comprises a snowshoe.
 16. A snowshoe comprising: a binding system for binding a boot to a support surface of the snowshoe, said binding system comprising: a front binding comprising a hook, said hook being configured and arranged to be affixed to the sports apparatus and demarcating a notch open longitudinally rearwardly and transversely on opposite lateral sides to receive a front transverse rod of the boot; and a rear binding to longitudinally immobilize the boot in a position to maintain the transverse rod of the boot within the notch. 